Your 5 Must Have Products this Autumn/Winter

Bring it on, Winter

I don’t know about you, but as soon as the colder weather kicks in my body reacts to it…and not in a good way. My eating habits change, my skin dries like the autumn leaves and my mind feels frazzled. I love so many things about the changing seasons, but (particularly in the transition period) I forget that my body’s needs have altered and I need to switch up my habits to meet this demand for love and attention.

Below I’ve listed my 5 must have products for the autumn/winter season, to keep myself feeling grounded, balanced and energised!

1. Skin

My skin is prone to dryness at any time of year, but is especially vulnerable in winter. I love to give myself a daily facial massage with Green People’s Damask Rose Facial Oil. It contains a deep and complex aroma blend that you just don’t usually find in natural cosmetics. Some of my favourite ingredients in this product are jojoba, lavender, sweet almond, rose, avocado, sunflower and lemon. It’s the perfect combination of soothing and rejuvenating oils with attention on the aromatherapy aspects. The oil itself is light and refreshing, so there’s no worries that I’ll block my pores and cause a breakout. I find it a great way to unwind at the end of the day, treating my skin to the moisture it needs whilst I relax into the exfoliating self-massage. As a bonus, it’s 99.7% organic, vegan and cruelty free.

2. Hair

Not only do I suffer from dry skin, but I also have dry, brittle hair. The winter winds really take their toll on my curls, so I make sure to look after them with an intensely moisturising shampoo and conditioner. I love using Faith in Nature’s Brave Botanicals Moisture Boost. The shampoo lasts for ages and the conditioner is wonderfully thick. It can also be really nice to treat your hair once every couple of weeks to a deep condition, just by leaving the conditioner in for a bit longer (e.g. an hour whilst you relax in a nice hot bath!) The coconut oil it contains is naturally very moisturising on the hair and scalp and it’s accompanied with notes of frangipani (a soft, fruity, peachy and creamy scent) that lingers around for the whole day. It’s a beautiful smell and the products leave my hair silky smooth and shiny.

3. Body

Colder months are dominated by the Vata Dosha, which can become imbalanced easily, especially if your body type is Vata anyway. (You can see what Dosha you are here.) It’s really important to not let Vata tendencies take over, by pacifying it with warm, sticky, sweet and oily foods and drinks. It’s also vital to stay hydrated, but with nothing colder than room temperature. My go-to drink is Pukka’s Relax Tea. This delicious tea has 6 main ingredients that are the perfect combination for balance and peace:

Ginger – Is great for digestion, which can be easily upset in the autumn/winter.

Liquorice – Naturally sweet and comforting.

Marshmallow – Sweet and great for soothing the throat, it is also naturally restorative and gentle.

4. Mind

A few years ago, I thought I was one of the only adults in the world that enjoyed a good colouring session. When visiting my sisters, if I found any of my nephews colouring I’d be on the floor with the Crayolas trying to teach them blending techniques and the inner workings of the colour wheel. So you can imagine my excitement when colouring became mainstream! There are so many colouring books available now with every theme imaginable. I personally love this Beautiful Mandalas Colouring Book For Adults. Mandalas represent the universe, and the combination of seeing the stunning patterns along with the slow-paced colouring is very therapeutic. It’s great to take just 10 or 15 minutes and lose yourself in the act of colouring; it’s super calming.

5. Home

Finally, whilst I’m making the most of my relaxation time, I like to light a candle. Not only is the flickering light calming, the aromas that diffuse around the room are incredibly therapeutic. My favourite candles are from the Scentered collection; I love the Sleep Well Home Therapy Candle the most. The burn time is great, and the scent always sends me off into a great night’s sleep. They also have other scents in their collection to choose from depending on your mood:

Be Happy – Grapefruit, Lemon Myrtle and Spearmint.

Love – Rose, Jasmine and Patchouli.

Escape – Oud, Frankincense and Sandalwood.

Stress Less – Chamomile, Neroli and Mandarin.

Sleep Well – Palmarosa, Lavender and Ylang Ylang.

So those are my top 5 products to get through the autumn/winter. The products I have listed all centre around a theme of calming; which is vital if you want to stay balanced in mind and body, and hydrating; which is essential to keeping your body functioning happily. It’s very easy to get caught up in the seasonal transition, but if you just pay a little extra attention to your body and its needs, you can face winter head on with vibrance and energy.

If you begin to feel bogged down by the festive stresses, then our New Year yoga retreats are the perfect solution for an indulgent mid-winter pick-me-up.